What is the difference between a TT and an ETT? And what makes the PS decide which procedure to perform?

Thank you for your question.The difference between a tummy tuck and an extended tummy tuck is essentially the length of your incision.  A tummy tuck incision typically goes from hip to hip, while an extended tummy tuck incision is slightly longer and can extend around a patients hips towards the spine.  The length of your incision is determined by the amount of skin that needs to be removed and the location of this skin.  A true tummy tuck addresses only excess abdominal skin, but an extended tummy tuck can address skin laxity of the flanks and lower back that typically results from significant weight loss.  I hope that you find this helpful and I wish you all of the best!

Thank you for your question. 
The difference is basically the length of the scar, the conventional tummy tucks the scar is going hip to hip in the abdominal area only in the extended tummy tuck the scar extends to the back of your body. Some patient needs to remove the excess of adipose tissue and skin of the back areas and flanks to reduce the love handles. Sometimes the conventional tummy tuck can result in ear dog formation because of lack on extended the incision to the back of the body. Please make sure to discuss with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon before the procedure. Good luck :)

It simply has to do with the amount of skin laxity the patient has, and the tailoring needed to correct it.  Someone with more laxity, especially towards the sides of the abdomen, is more likely to need an extended approach.

Thank you for sharing your excellent question.  In general the difference between the two operations is the length of the scar.  The extended tummy tuck has a longer horizontal scar component because of the desire to directly excise loose tissue found around the love handle and waist region.  Hope this helps.

These procedures are all variations on the same theme. Which procedure for any one patient depends on how extensive the abdominal and hip excess skin is present.  Shorter incisions remove much less skin than longer or extended incisions. All types of tummy tucks will involve some liposuction and plication of your abdominal muscles. At the time of your consultation, you can discuss your goals, and then choose the appropriate procedures.

A full TT incision goes hip bone to hip bone, sometimes a bit shorter; it involves repair of the rectus muscles and removal of loose, excess tissue around the abdominal areas to improve body contours.
If the incision goes around the sides and/or around the sides and back, because of the incision length, it is called an ETT. 
For patients with severe loose skin on the torso, the extended tummy tuck or "fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty" can produce more dramatic before-and-after results than a full tummy tuck.Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

A standard tummy tuck incision runs from hip to hip, and includes muscle repair as well as removal of excess skin and fatty deposits. An extended tummy tuck, as the name implies, extends that incision further on the sides so a greater amount of skin can be removed. Your plastic surgeon might recommend an extended tummy tuck for a larger amount of loose skin, such as might be left behind after significant weight loss.

An extended tummy tuck is used when there is excess skin in your abdomen beyond the usual TT limits. Some tummy tucks are so extended they are circumferential around to the back, called a Belt abdominoplasties or full body lifts. Thank you for your question and good luck.

The difference is the length of your incision. That will be determined by your PS during consultation and exam and a discussion of your expectations concerning excess tissue over the hips and flanks (muffin top).  Although I always make the incision as low and short as possible, I tell my patients "the only thing worse that a incision that is to long, is one that is too short"

An extended tummy tuck usually wraps around the waist. This is less common than a standard TT. If there is severe laxity laterally, then it is often extended.